A new report by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy revealed that active transportation infrastructure contributes more than $34.1 billion to the U.S. economy annually.
The report, titled “Active Transportation Transforms America,” analyzed data about the health cost savings, climate protection, mobility and direct economic value of trails and active transportation.
Active transportation infrastructure has the potential to contribute more than $138.5 billion each year to the economy, according to the report. That return is nearly seven times greater every year than the cumulative investment of $20 billion that’s been made in trails and walking and biking projects via federal programs over the past three decades.
According to RTC, the majority of trips taken in the United States are within a 20-minute bike ride or less, more than one in four trips are within a 20-minute walk or less, and 11.5 percent of all trips are made by walking and biking. Yet, current fed